There are so many interesting and memorable places in our country that a lifetime is not enough to see them all. Today we will go to Tatarstan. The attraction that the capital of the republic is proud of is the Kazan Kremlin, the oldest part of the city, unique complex historical, archaeological and architectural monuments that reveal the centuries-old history of the Tatar people, the ancient city and the republic as a whole.
The entire territory of the complex today is a museum-reserve, which has been under the protection of UNESCO since 2000. The Kazan Kremlin (Tatarstan) is the main attraction of the republic. On a vast territory, Tatar and Russian cultural traditions are harmoniously combined.
After Kazan was taken by the troops of Ivan the Terrible, most of the Kremlin buildings were damaged, and almost all mosques were destroyed. The tsar ordered the construction of a white-stone Kremlin here, and for this purpose architects were sent from Pskov to build the Moscow Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed. The fortress was significantly expanded, and the wooden fortifications were replaced with stone ones in the first half of the 17th century.
In the 18th century, the Kazan Kremlin (Tatarstan) lost its military function and became the cultural and administrative center of the Volga region. In subsequent centuries, the construction of the Governor's Palace, the cadet school, the bishop's house, the spiritual consistory, and the building of government offices were carried out here. In addition, the Annunciation Cathedral was reconstructed.
After the October Revolution (1917), the bell tower of the Annunciation Cathedral, the temple of the Spassky Monastery, the chapel at the Spasskaya Tower and other unique objects were destroyed in the Kazan Kremlin. In the nineties of the XX century, the Kazan Kremlin (Tatarstan) became the residence of the President of the Republic. At this time, large-scale restoration work began.
Since 1995, work began on the construction of the Kul-Sharif mosque. Today it is one of the largest in Europe. The Kazan Kremlin (Tatarstan) is a one-of-a-kind vivid example of the synthesis of Russian and Tatar architectural style. It is also the northernmost point of distribution of Islamic culture in the world.
Today, many tourists from different countries world visit Tatarstan. Landmark of the republic, which causes the greatest interest, - Kazan Kremlin. It should be noted that in order to inspect all its facilities, it will take at least two days, and sightseeing tour lasts only an hour and a half. But, since we are not limited in time, we will get acquainted with the sights of the Kremlin in more detail.
Kremlin buildings
The Kazan Kremlin (Tatarstan) is a museum-reserve covering an area of 13.45 hectares. The perimeter of the walls is about 1.8 thousand meters. On this vast territory there are the Museum-Memorial of the Great Patriotic War, the Museum of Islam, the Hermitage-Kazan Center, the Museum of the History of Tatarstan and other institutions.
Spasskaya Tower
This tower houses the Front Gates to the Kremlin. The architects Shiryai and Yakovlev built the tower in 1556. The height of this building is 47 meters. The tetrahedral base has a straight arched opening. The octahedral tier has arched openings on each side and is a belfry where the alarm bell is located.
On top is a brick cone, which is crowned with a five-pointed star. Another octagonal cone contains a striking clock. They glorified the Kazan Kremlin (Tatarstan). The interesting device of the first clock, which was installed in the 18th century, interested many foreign craftsmen who produce such mechanisms. This was explained by the fact that the clock was arranged very unusually - a dial rotated around the fixed hands.
They were changed to a traditional analogue in 1780. The clock, which is located on the walls of the Spasskaya Tower today, was installed in 1963. It is noteworthy that with the beginning of the chiming clock, the snow-white walls gradually turn into a rich crimson color.
Presences
The project of the provincial office was developed by the architect from Moscow V. I. Kaftyriev. The building appeared in the Kremlin in late XVIII century. There were offices (for receptions) and living rooms for the governor's family. The second floor was reserved for a luxurious throne room with choirs for orchestra. In the place where the Sovereign's Court was located in the 15th-17th centuries, a guardhouse was built in the middle of the 19th century.
Today, the premises of the former office house the Department of External Relations of the President of Tatarstan, the Central Election Commission and the Arbitration Court.
Transfiguration Monastery
The Kazan Kremlin, the description of which can be seen in almost all advertising brochures of the city, is famous for another object. The monastery complex is located in the southeast of the Kremlin territory. In the center of it are the remains of the Transfiguration Cathedral, destroyed in the twenties of the XX century. At the foot of the main wall of the cathedral, you can see a small cave, which since 1596 was the burial place of the Kazan wonderworkers.
The fraternal building borders on the fence of the monastery. Monastic cells were built here in 1670. Much later, a gallery and a treasury house were erected. The Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, as well as the chambers of the archimandrite, are located at the western wall of the complex. The church building was reconstructed according to the project of A. Schmidt in 1815. Interestingly, during the reconstruction, the basement of the 16th century was preserved in its original form.
Junker School
On the territory of the Kremlin there is an arena, which was built according to the project built earlier in St. Petersburg. This building was intended for military training. Today it houses the Institute of Literature and Art. Ibragimov. Behind the arena is the school building. It was created by the architect Pyatnitsky as a barracks for cantonists.
The building was handed over to the military department in 1861, later a cadet school was opened in it.
Kul Sharif Mosque
In the courtyard of the school is the most beautiful mosque in the city. Four minarets soared fifty-seven meters into the sky. The capacity of this grandiose building is 1500 people. The minarets are painted turquoise, which makes the structure amazing bright image. In addition to the mosque, the complex includes a huge open library-museum, a publishing center and the office of the imam.
A rounded small beautiful building with a turquoise dome, located south of the mosque, is a fire department, which is stylistically connected with the architectural complex. Kul Sharif was re-established in 2005. Funds for its construction were donated by the townspeople, as well as enterprises of the capital.
Blagoveshchensky cathedral
This is the oldest stone building in Kazan, which has survived to this day. It was consecrated in 1562. The architecture of the cathedral traces the trends of Pskov, Vladimir, Ukrainian and Moscow architecture. Helmet-shaped domes, located on the side domes, were replaced in 1736 with bulbous ones. The central dome is made in the Ukrainian baroque style.
In the main basement of the temple, a museum of Orthodoxy of the Volga region was created. A little further is the house of the bishop, which was built in 1829 on the site where the palace of the Kazan bishops used to be. The consistory completes the ensemble. This building was rebuilt from the bishop's stables.
Artillery Yard
Behind the mosque and the school is the Cannon Yard, or rather, its southern building. This is the oldest structure of the complex - it was built at the very beginning of the 17th century. An artillery factory began operating here in the 19th century. And last year there was a restoration. The creation of the exposition of the Museum of the Cannon Yard began.
Nowadays, permanent exhibitions, demonstrations of fashion collections, chamber performances are held on the territory of the complex. Near the southern building you can see a fragment of a brick building on a stone foundation. According to the depth of occurrence, this object belongs to the Khan's era of the Kremlin. In those days, houses were built here.
Governor's Palace
It was built in 1848 for the governor of Kazan with royal chambers for especially honored guests. The work was supervised by K. A. Ton, who is known for his amazing works. This is the Cathedral of Christ and the Bolshoi in Moscow. The Khan's palace ensemble used to be on this site.
The second floor of the palace is connected with the palace church by a passage. It was called Vvedenskaya, it was built in the 17th century. Inside the church, today the Museum of the History of Statehood operates, and the president of Tatarstan and his family live in the governor's palace.
Tower Syuyumbike
This is the symbol of Kazan. The tower was named after the Tatar queen. As the legend says, Ivan the Terrible, having learned about the beauty of Syuyumbika, sent messengers to Kazan with an offer to the beautiful girl to become the Moscow queen. But the envoys brought a refusal from the proud beauty. The enraged tsar captured Kazan. The girl was forced to agree to the proposal of Ivan the Terrible, but she put forward a condition: that in seven days there should be a tower in the city that would eclipse all existing minarets in height.
Ivan the Terrible fulfilled the desire of his beloved. During the festive feast, Syuyumbike said that she wanted to take a farewell native city view from the height of the newly built tower. Climbing to the top platform, she rushed down.
Outwardly, this building is very reminiscent of the Moscow Kremlin. Unfortunately, there is no exact data on the time of creation of this attraction.
The tower consists of five tiers, which are decreasing in size. The last levels are octahedrons, which are crowned by a tent in the form of an octagonal truncated pyramid and a spire with a crescent. From the spire to the ground, the height of the structure is 58 meters. In the last century, three reconstructions took place here, as it was recorded. Today, the deviation from the vertical of the spire is 1.98 meters.
Taynitskaya tower
Below Syuyumbike are the Taynitsky entrance gate. This name was given to them in honor of the dungeon that leads to the source. During the siege of the city, it was used by local residents. Previously, the tower was called Nur-Ali. Russian residents of the city called her Muraleeva. It was blown up during the capture of the Kremlin. It was through these gates that Ivan IV entered the city.
The tower was restored, but the architectural decoration was made in the 17th century. Now on the upper tier there is a cafe "Muraleevy Vorota".
Kazan Kremlin: tours, prices, opening hours
The excursion department of the Kremlin invites guests of the city and local residents to take a walk around the museum-reserve, accompanied by professional staff. Tours are conducted in Tatar, Russian, German, English, Turkish, Italian and French.
The entrance through the Spasskaya Tower is open daily. The entrance to the Kazan Kremlin (Tatarstan) is also carried out through the Tainitskaya Tower. Opening hours: in summer - from 8:00 to 22:00, and in winter - until 18:00.
The cost of the tour for a group of six people is 1360 rubles. From a group of more than six people - 210 rubles per adult.
How to get there?
The Kazan Kremlin (Tatarstan), whose address is Kremlevskaya, 2, is located on the left bank of the Volga. You can get here by buses No. 6, 29, 37, 47, trolleybuses No. 4, 10, 1 and 18. Stop "TsUM", "St. Bauman" or by metro - stop "Kremlevskaya".
Plan of the Kazan Kremlin in 1730No historian will name the exact date of the construction of the Kazan Kremlin. Researchers believe that the complex appeared between the 10th and 12th centuries. At first, all buildings were built of wood, and the Kremlin itself consisted of fortress walls. But every year more and more buildings appeared, and then the complex turned into a real city - this is how Kazan was born. First, the fortress was an outpost for the Bulgar princes, then for the khans of the Golden Horde. From the 16th century, it came under the control of the Russian state - it was captured by Ivan the Terrible.
At first, the troops turned the Kremlin fortifications into ruins, but it is from this moment that a new page in the history of the complex begins. Ivan the Terrible started a grand reconstruction of the Kremlin: architects and masons arrived from Pskov. For six years, the masters have changed the appearance of the building beyond recognition. Orthodox churches, bell towers and towers appeared on the territory. Instead of wooden fortifications, stone ones were erected. This citadel for a long time was famous as the most impregnable fortress of medieval Russia.
But in the 18th century, this function became unimportant - the state expanded its borders. Only during the uprising of Yemelyan Pugachev, the Kremlin was used as a fortification during the siege of Kazan. After that, the complex lost its military purpose completely. From the end of the 19th century, the fortress began to take on a modern architectural image, and today it is a symbol of reconciliation between Orthodoxy and Islam.
Guarded by a dragon
The main entrance to the Kremlin lies through the Spasskaya Tower - on May Day Square. Pay attention to the statue of the Dragon Zilant. This creature is considered a symbol of Kazan and the protector of the city. There are many legends about the Kazan basilisk - it is believed that the monster lives at the bottom of the lake and the hills at the mouth of the river, it happens in the surrounding forests.
Particularly stands out Spasskaya Tower - the main part of the complex. Sheinkman Street stretches from it - the former Bolshaya, which was the most basic in the Kremlin. This tower was built later than the others - in the 17th century as a symbol of the greatness of Russia. Pskov craftsmen have worked hard to create a traditional Russian bell tower with a majestic eagle on its spire. For a long time there was a church inside, and a chapel nearby. But later the building was dismantled, making a through entrance.
The Spasskaya Tower is not the only one; only eight of the original thirteen have survived. No less interesting is Taynitskaya, also built in the 17th century. A massive lower and a miniature upper tier, a magnificent view of the city from the promenade - all this deserves attention.
Reliable protection
After admiring the towers, take a look at the walls. Once upon a time there was a wooden structure in their place. After the seizure of the territory by Ivan the Terrible, they were updated, and then the Kremlin was completely made of wood. Under reliable protection The walls are full of buildings: Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, Manege, Junker School.
For many visitors, the Kul-Sharif mosque becomes a favorite place. It is called the pearl of the Kremlin, but the real attraction was destroyed during the time of Ivan the Terrible. Not even pictures of the building remain. On the site of the disappeared medieval Islamic shrine, it was decided to build a new one. During the construction of the structure, the architects adhered to their own ideas. They took as a basis the “Kazan hat” - the crown of the khans of Kazan. In 2005, for the 1000th anniversary of the city, a new facility was solemnly opened.
The modern mosque has eight minarets decorated with crescents. Inside there is a museum of Islam and ancient manuscripts, a prayer hall, a library, a gallery for women and an observation deck. The mosque primarily serves as a cultural, educational and scientific center. The rules for visiting are the same as in Orthodox churches. You can go inside freely, but you need to buy shoe covers at the entrance. Women will need to wear a headscarf and cover their knees - a long skirt is required. Men do not need a hat.
Impressive visitors interior decoration– ceramic panels and paintings. Creating ornaments, the masters adhered to the techniques of the 16th century. The windows are tall and narrow, in the form of lancet arches and with bright stained-glass windows. Persian handmade carpets add luxury - they cover more than 2 thousand square meters. Tourists admire the decoration of the mosque from observation balconies.
If you go downstairs, you can buy a souvenir as a keepsake. They sell various little things: from a painted spoon to a fridge magnet. Religious literature is also sold at the entrance. Adjacent to the modern masterpiece is a building made in the same style - the fire department. Behind the mosque is the residence of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan. The palace combines the features of Russian baroque, classicism and ancient Russian architecture. But guests of the Kremlin are usually in a hurry to see the Syuyumbike Tower and the Cathedral of the Annunciation.
Kazan Leaning Tower
The top of Syuyumbike is deviated from the vertical by almost two meters - such a roll is visible to the naked eye. The tower was built back in the 17th century on the foundation of a sentinel guard building. But the calculations turned out to be incorrect, and immediately after the construction, the structure began to gradually tilt. It was decided to correct the mistake only in the 1990s, when restoration work was carried out. Here, tourists are advised to touch the tower and make a wish - they say it comes true.
Place of tranquility
Another miracle of the Kazan Kremlin is the Cathedral of the Annunciation. It is believed that Ivan the Terrible himself drove wooden cross on site for construction. This church was the first Orthodox Cathedral in the Middle Volga. Today it is a functioning temple. Behind the building is a miniature park.
After sightseeing, go to the observation deck, which offers a wonderful view of the embankment of the Kazanka River. From here you can see the bridge and the local water park. The Holy Assumption Convent is clearly visible, its golden domes shining in the sun.
Cathedral of the Annunciation in the Kazan Kremlin
Museum complexes
Curious visitors can get acquainted with the museum expositions. Among those regularly working are the Hermitage-Kazan, the Museum of Islam, the art gallery of the Republic of Tatarstan, the National Museum, the Kazan Kremlin settlements. To the left of the mosque are the remains of the Cannon Yard, where an arms factory was once located. Today, the eponymous museum welcomes guests here.
Festive Kremlin
A visit to the majestic complex is always an event, but during the festivals there is a festive atmosphere. Every year, at the beginning of summer, a stage is built near the walls of the Kremlin. Famous musicians, both Russian and foreign, sing at the International Live Music Festival. In September, a festival is organized inside the complex modern culture. The Kremlin is becoming a venue for exhibitions, concerts and performances.
The Kul Sharif Mosque and the building of the fire station in the Kazan KremlinHow to get there
There will be no difficulties in finding a famous attraction. The first option is to go to public transport to the "Palace of Sports" "Central Stadium" or stop "TsUM". The second way is to take the subway to the "Kremlevskaya". Adherents of hiking can walk along Moskovskaya and Bauman streets.
The history of the creation of the Kazan Kremlin dates back to the 11th-12th centuries. Initially, the fortress was built as a defensive structure of the Volga Bulgaria to protect against enemy attacks. Trade rows were located here, a mosque was built, the Kremlin was the main decoration of the square. But everything was destroyed and burned in 1552 during the attack of the troops of Ivan the Terrible. After the conquest of Kazan, the new ruler ordered to rebuild the Kremlin building on Kazan Hill and restore the appearance of the administrative center.
In the 18th century, the Kazan Kremlin received the last enemy attack - Emelyan Pugachev in 1773 and defended its positions. The enemy retreated, but archaeologists still find the consequences of the destruction today.
After the creation of the Republic of Tatarstan in 1992, the Kazan Kremlin became the first presidential residence. started vigorous activity on the restoration of cultural and historical heritage: buildings were restored, museum complexes were opened. In 2000, the unique open-air museum was included in the UNESCO cultural heritage list.
The main attractions of the Kremlin
One of the bright sights of the Kazan Kremlin was the Kul Sharif mosque. Built of snow-white marble, the mosque is decorated with blue domes and minarets. The mosque got its name in honor of the national hero of Tatarstan - Imam Khul Sharif. The imam took a direct part in the defense of the mosque during the attack of the troops of Ivan the Terrible and was killed. The mosque was burned down and rebuilt for the 1000th anniversary of Kazan. Construction took a long 9 years and became the main event in the anniversary year of the capital. The Kul Sharif complex covers an area of about 19,000 sq.m. and consists of a mosque, a foundation stone and an administrative building. The mosque can accommodate 1,500 people, and the surrounding area - up to 10,000 people.
The Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery and the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kazan Kremlin were built in the middle of the 16th century, the latter was rebuilt, reconstructed and restored several times. Currently, work is underway to connect these complexes to the Museum of Archeology of Tatarstan.
Another attraction of the Kazan Kremlin is the Siyumbike Tower, which is part of the Presidential Complex. The tower, 58 meters high, has a peculiar slope to the side by 1.8 m from the axis. Thanks to the fortification works carried out in 1998, it was possible to stop the fall of the tower.
Excursions around the Kazan Kremlin
The Kazan Kremlin is located in the central part of the capital of the republic. You can get here by public transport to the stop "TsUM", or by metro to the station "Kremlevskaya".
Entrance to the territory of the Kazan Kremlin is free for all visitors. Here you can order both group and individual tours. You will be taken to all significant places and told a lot interesting information from the history of the fortress.
A thousand years ago, Finno-Ugric tribes settled on a high hill at the confluence of the rivers. After the emergence of the state of Great Volga Bulgaria in the territory of modern Tatarstan in the 10-13 centuries, Kazan was a small fortress on the border with Russia.
After the Mongol invasion in 1236, the Bulgar population came under the walls of Kazan from the Volga Bulgaria devastated by the Mongols, the city became a trade and political center.
Then, after the collapse of the Golden Horde, the Kremlin became the center of the Kazan Khanate, which existed for about 100 years, from 1438 to 1552.
In the middle of the 16th century, conflicts with the Moscow principality escalated, and the Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible went to war against the Kazan Khanate. In October 1552, Russian troops conquered Kazan and destroyed its kirman (fortress). Architects from Pskov and Novgorod are invited to build the new Kremlin under the guidance of Postnik Yakovlev and Ivan Shiryaev. The white-stone fortress, which can be seen now, was built after the middle of the 16th century by Russian architects from white Volga stone.
Today the Kremlin serves as the residence of the president of the Republic of Tatarstan and is valuable as the southernmost example of the Pskov architectural style in Russia.
The Kazan Kremlin Museum-Reserve is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The architectural ensemble of the Kazan Kremlin is interesting because even today it retains the features of all the centuries that have passed over it.What to see in the Kazan Kremlin
- The very walk along the high white stone walls makes an impression, and if you climb the Transfiguration Tower to the very roof - the whole center of the city is in full view! The only and main street of the fortress remembers the Bulgar emirs, the Golden Horde khans and Russian tsars. This is the first street in Kazan, paved with cobblestones, it has a historical look even today.
- On the territory of the fortress is the famous "falling" tower of Queen Syuyumbike.
It deviates from its axis by 2 meters. The tower is named after the last Kazan queen. The legend says: Ivan the Terrible, having learned about the beauty of the queen, wanted to take her as his wife. Having been refused, Ivan the Terrible attacked Kazan. Wanting to save her besieged city, Suyumbeki agreed to become his wife, but set a condition: let the chosen one build a seven-tiered tower in a week. And when the request was fulfilled, the queen rushed down from it. In fact, the fate of Syuyumbeki was different: the 29-year-old daughter of the Nogai Murza was taken to Moscow and separated from her young son there.
In 2005, a new mosque, Kul Sharif, was opened, which became the main mosque of Tatarstan. Kul Sharif - that was the name of the chief priest of the Kazan Khanate, a Muslim theologian and educator. He died in 1552 during the capture of Kazan by Ivan the Terrible, at the same time the cathedral mosque was burned to the ground. The iconic building in the Kazan Kremlin was recreated almost five hundred years after its destruction. The main dome is shaped like a "Kazan cap" - the crown of the Kazan khans, which was taken to Moscow after the fall of Kazan and is now on display in the Armory. Kul Sharif was erected by Turkish builders, chandeliers for it were made in the Czech Republic, granite and marble were brought from the Urals. More than two thousand square meters of the mosque are covered with Persian carpets - a gift from the Iranian government. In addition to the prayer halls of the mosque, in the Kul Sharif building you can visit the Museum of Islamic Culture located in the basement.
- By the millennium of Kazan, a branch of the St. Petersburg "Hermitage" was also opened, located in the building of the former Junkers' School. Museums are located in the same building - a memorial museum of the Great Patriotic War, a natural history museum, an art gallery "Khazine" ("Treasury").
- The Kremlin houses the first Orthodox cathedral in the Middle Volga region - the Annunciation Cathedral, built immediately after the capture of Kazan. It was built in the middle of the 16th century by Pskov masters.
Its architect Postnik Yakovlev was the author of the famous St. Basil's Cathedral on Red Square. According to ancient sources, the cathedral was built the day before the attack on Kazan by the soldiers of Ivan the Terrible. Per long history The temple has gone through many renovations. In May 1836, the cathedral was visited by Nicholas I. Following imperial orders, the cathedral was expanded and turned into a winter one. He was visited by Peter I, Catherine II and almost all members of the imperial house, as well as Radishchev, Pushkin, Rachmaninov. More than once Fyodor Chaliapin sang here in the church choir.
Special offers on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin
In the Hermitage-Kazan center, school excursions are offered the quest “In Search of Treasure”. This is an alternative to the traditional tour of the Kazan Kremlin, a walker with riddles and competitions in the ancient fortress.
In the Museum of Islam in the Kul Sharif Mosque, you can visit the master class "The Art of Wearing a Headscarf" and learn what Muslim beauty means, how Kazan Tatar women wore headdresses at the end of the 19th century, why Muslim women leave only their faces and hands open, what 15 there are ways to tie a scarf.
How to get to the Kazan Kremlin
The citadel can be seen in the city center from all sides. Since the 16th century, the Kremlin has stood on a hill, surrounded by a strong white stone wall. At the foot of the hill is the metro station "Kremlyovskaya", near the bus stop "Circus".
Visiting Rules
To enter the Kremlin, you need to go to the Spasskaya Tower on May 1 Square. Here you can book a tour, or buy a guide to the fortress and take a walk on your own.
The Kremlin is open to individual visitors free of charge.
The cost of an excursion to the Kazan Kremlin in Russian and Tatar languages: a group of up to 10 people - 500 rubles (each subsequent one - 50 rubles).
The main and most visited attraction of Kazan is undoubtedly. Since January 1994, a museum-reserve has been operating on its territory, which is a unique cultural object. And although the Kremlin buildings are examples of the development of the Russian period of the history of Kazan from the middle of the 16th century, nevertheless, the layout and urban planning composition of the former Tatar fortress in in general terms preserved.
On the Kremlin territory, which occupies almost 150 thousand square meters, there are currently existing institutions of the statehood of Tatarstan, interesting museum expositions, architectural structures of the 16-19 centuries, among which the following stand out: Governor's Palace and the beautiful silhouette of a Muslim mosque Kul Sharif, monolith Annunciation Orthodox Cathedral and a mysterious tower soaring up Syuyumbike.
The Kazan Kremlin, combining the styles of Russian and Tatar architecture, is recognized at the world level. Committee world heritage In 2000, UNESCO declared it a protected site.
However, before you take a walk around the Kazan Kremlin, you need to recreate the chronology of significant milestones the formation of the city, which began right here - on the high Kremlin hill.
A Brief History of the Kremlin
The territory of the Kremlin hill, due to its favorable location, began to be populated from ancient times, but how did the city of Kazan appear on this site as a result of the actions of the last Bulgarian princes, who moved closer to the Volga from the city Iske-Kazan and founded a fortress on this high hill at the end of the 14th century. At that time, Kazan did not achieve particularly powerful development - it was too weak politically and militarily.
But in the first half of the 15th century, this Volga city chose the former Golden Horde Khan for his residence Ulu-Mahmet (Muhammed). It was under him, as a result of his military and political activity, that Kazan became the main city of a powerful Kazan Khanate- the center where trade, culture and the Islamic religion developed. Under him and his followers, the Kazan Kremlin was built and strengthened, the Khan's palace ensemble, mosques, minarets and other urban constructions were erected.
Kazan is the capital of the Kazan Khanate - picture
However, in parallel with the development of the Kazan Khanate, there was a growth and strengthening of the Muscovite state and, naturally, friction constantly arose between these two powerful state associations, which were most often resolved by military means. Made a few times Ivan the Terrible trips to Kazan, but only after the construction of a fortified fortress in Sviyazhsk, after a long siege and the use of gunpowder to undermine the fortifications, the Russian tsar was able to take possession of the Tatar city. It happened on a memorable day October 2, 1552.
And here with mid 16th centuryka a completely different history of Kazan and the region begins. The subjugated Muslim population was either exterminated or evicted from the central part across the Bulak River. For many centuries, they tried to completely destroy Islam as the main religion of the region, the Tatar population was subjected to forced baptism, mosques were destroyed. Strongholds of Christianity were erected everywhere - churches and monasteries. Even on small Kremlin lands, in commemoration of the long-awaited victory, three Orthodox buildings were immediately built: Church of the Annunciation, Church of the Savior and Church of Cyprian and Ustinya. In the future, four more churches were built, and monastic brotherhoods were created: Spaso-Preobrazhenskoye and Trinity-Sergius.
The territory of the entire conquered region is actively populated Russian settlers. Naturally, they also settled in the Kazan Kremlin, whose population included representatives of the military service class, clergy, officials of the highest administration and bureaucratic groups. By the end of the 16th century, there were about a hundred households here.
Thus, by the second half of the 16th century, practically nothing had survived from Kazan, the center of the once powerful Kazan Khanate. Storm Muslim city On October 2, 1552, the Russian troops, the siege that preceded it and the subsequent pogrom of the city, led to the fact that the architectural monuments of the Muslim period of the 14-16th centuries in Kazan were almost completely destroyed. In addition, the Kremlin was wooden before the capture of Kazan by the Russians, which means that during the assault and as a result of subsequent destructive fires, even the few surviving buildings of Muslim Kazan were irretrievably lost.
After the capture of Kazan, the main task of the Moscow government was strengthening the military-strategic position Kazan fortress in case of uprisings and keeping the subjugated population in obedience. Since the fortress walls were destroyed during the assault, the first thing that was done on the orders of Ivan the Terrible was the restoration of a wooden fence, and after 3 years, in parallel with the construction of stone Orthodox churches, Pskov masters began Withconstruction of white stone walls from the Volga limestone. Moreover, the territory of the Kremlin was expanded towards the Spasskaya Tower 120 meters east of its original territory.
Massive, roughly hewn slabs of this stone can be seen on the example of the lower tier of the Spasskaya Tower. But then only 600 meters of the wall were built of limestone, the rest were restored in wooden form. Only in the 17th century, already from red brick, the remaining 1150 meters of the fortress wall with towers were erected, encircling the Kremlin territory around the entire perimeter.
Kazan of the 16th century, like all strategically important ancient cities, consisted of two parts: from the city proper(fortresses, kremlin, etc.) and posada, i.e. a settlement located outside the fortress walls, but in turn also walled and fortified. The Kremlin, of course, was a more ancient and administratively significant settlement than the settlement.
Over the centuries, the Kremlin buildings have repeatedly burned, subjected to attacks from outside, which led to the loss of some buildings and the appearance of others. So, for example, as a result of the storming of the Kremlin Emelyan Pugachev in 1773, the Trinity Monastery was lost and several towers were thoroughly damaged, which subsequently had to be dismantled.
The erection of new buildings on the Kremlin land already in 18th century determined by its role as the administrative center of Russia. Appear Ensemble Governor's Palace, arrays of military buildings Junker School and Offices, there are such structures as spiritual consistory and bishop's palace.
October Revolution of 1917 made fundamental changes in the history of the Kazan Kremlin - began period of destruction of religious buildings. This fate affected almost all the Kremlin churches, and the government and all kinds of ministries and departments are located in the premises of the former consistory, bishop's and governor's palaces. new government. The cadet school housed the created United Tatar-Bashkir military school.
90s of the 20th century were marked by a new historical sharp turn - the beginning of the era of the revival of historical values. Fundamental restoration and restoration work begins in the preserved architectural monuments, the largest mosque in Europe - Kul-Sharif is being built, interesting museum exhibitions and expositions are opening.
If you examine the Kazan Kremlin in detail and with visits to museums, but in one visit to cover its entire scale is simply unrealistic. But in order to get a general impression, especially if you get at least a little knowledge of the history of the development of this not very large, but historically rich territory, it is enough 3-4 hours. Take advantage of our travel tips and historical tips on your guided tour of the Kremlin.
Study tour around the territory of the Kazan Kremlin
So, we offer to start acquaintance with the Kazan Kremlin from Spasskaya Tower, the most important and elegant tower of the Kremlin. small space in front of them is May 1 Square - the oldest forum of the city, the main commercial and public space from the 15th to the 19th centuries, a place of trade and communication between the townspeople, the Kremlin and the visiting population.
Spasskaya Tower
On May 1 Square there is one of the main entrances to the territory of the Kremlin - Spasskaya Tower, perhaps one of its most interesting objects. As the main entrance tower, it has always been adapted to the needs of the era. Initially, it was a military two-tiered tower with a cranked passage, with a moat in front of it and a drawbridge. Then, already the front tower, with the chapel of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the main facade. AT Soviet times it was also an architectural expression of the era. And although May 1 Square itself has lost its historical significance over time, the Spasskaya Tower of the Kazan Kremlin has remained a symbol and "calling card" of the city.
Through the arched entrance under the Spasskaya Tower we enter the only half-kilometer Kremlin street - J. Sheikman passage, which was named in memory of the chairman of the Kazan Council shot here by the White Guards in 1918.
For a better understanding of the historical and architectural layout of the Kremlin territory, we propose to divide it into five thematic zones:
Each of these groups includes several architectural and historical sights.
Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery
To the left of the arch of the Spasskaya Tower are the ruins of one of the first Kazan monasteries founded by Ivan the Terrible himself - the Transfiguration of the Savior, which existed here until the end of the 20s of the 19th century. A visit to this monastery, its description, as well as Churches of Cyprian and Ustinya, which was located here, are still present in the guide to Kazan in 1927!
Transfiguration Cathedral
The authors of this guide talk about the fact that everyday Church of Cyprian and Ustinya was built not just at the behest of Ivan the Terrible, but in all likelihood at his own expense. But that first wooden church perished during a fire at the end of the 16th century and was replaced by a stone one, with the exact appearance and size of the previous one.
Church of Cyprian and Ustinya
five-headed Transfiguration Cathedral, main cathedral monastery, was built in stone form at the beginning of the 17th century and, they say, amazed contemporaries with its architecture and beauty. But the authors of the 1927 guidebook were outraged, first of all, by “the colossal waste of the country’s material resources for religious needs.” Each generation has its own attitude to historical monuments. But at one time, this monastery was the second in importance in the region, giving way only to Uspensky in Sviyazhsk.
The territory occupied by the Transfiguration Monastery was small - less than one hectare, and was separated from the only Kremlin street by a stone fence, and in the south and west by the Kremlin walls. This territorially small monastery is known for the names of the most prominent clergy of a bygone era. Here the first archbishop of Kazan was tonsured - St. Gury- This is where he was buried. This burial gave rise to the formation of a monastery churchyard, where famous clergymen, prominent representatives of the merchant class, professors and officials later found peace. Here he was buried and Barsanuphius- Founder of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery. For some time he was a member of the monastery brethren. Filaret, who later founded the Raifa Monastery.
Closer to the Spasskaya Tower - on the sidewalk, the place where the monastery bell tower. At first it was in a wooden form, then it stood on one of the galleries of the Transfiguration Cathedral, already being made of stone. And from the end of the 19th century, tall and beautiful, she, rebuilt on the Varvara Church, instead of the dilapidated one, proudly looked from behind the walls of the Kremlin to Ivanovskaya Square.
Bell tower of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery
In the very center of the former territory of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, today you can see a partially preserved basement of the Transfiguration Cathedral, built at the end of the 17th century on a stone foundation of the 16th century. Based on these archaeological remains, one can judge the scale of the building and the history of its construction and numerous reconstructions. If the basement is the era of the second half of the 16th century, then its northern and southern galleries are the result of improvements in the 18th century. The galleries served as covered corridors between the cathedral, the rector's house and Nicholas Church.
Basement of the Transfiguration Cathedral
Preserved in front of the altar and "cave"- a small stone recess with a vault, which served as a place of calm Kazan wonderworkers at the end of the 16th century.
Almost adjacent to the western Kremlin wall, there is a reconstructed Nikola Ratny Church(Wonderworker). At first it was a small temple with a large two-story white-stone refectory. As a result of numerous reconstructions, an L-shaped structure was obtained, uniting the temple, the refectory and the abbot's chambers.
And in the northeast of the cathedral, near the monastery fence, there is a preserved building of fraternal cells, erected here in the second half of the 17th century, with an attached to it in the 18th century. three-story treasure house.
At the end of the fence, the color on the pavement indicates the location of the Church of Cyprian and Ustinya, where it stood until the end of the 20s of the last century.
Having bypassed the entire small territory of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, we return to Y. Sheikman Street. From two sides in front of us, low stone 2-3-story buildings go to the horizon. Left- along the passage of Sheikman - the buildings of the former Junker School, erected at the beginning of the 19th century on the site of the second ancient Kremlin monastery previously located here - Trinity-Sergius. And in parallel with the Junkers School - on right- a series of buildings stands as a continuous monolith Offices ending with the former consistory.
Office Buildings
So, to the right of the Spasskaya Tower along the passage stretches a line of administrative buildings of the complex that has developed since the end of the 18th century. The complex begins with an L-shaped structure, pressed against the southeastern corner of the fortress walls - this is the former guardhouse Kazan garrison of the middle of the 19th century - a three-story brick building, ascetic in design, with large rectangular openings and a low roof. Soviet activists captured by the White Guards in the summer of 1918 were kept in this building. Among them were Y. Sheikman and M. Vakhitov, M. Mezhlauk and S. Gassar .... they were all shot at the Kremlin wall.
And before the construction of the guardhouse, from the middle of the 16th century, the residence of the “Big Governor”, the so-called Sovereign Court. The "Big Governor" was the highest representative of the administration in the region conquered by the Russians. He enjoyed the widest powers, both civil and military, could execute or pardon, send punitive detachments against the rebellious Tatar villages. The governor also kept the keys to the gates of the Spasskaya Tower. The sovereign's court of the 16th-17th centuries was a large and spacious wooden structure. Near it were three prison buildings. All these structures were lost as a result of one of the numerous fires in the Kremlin.
After the building of the guardhouse there is an extended articulation Buildings Offices(18-19 centuries). These two, partly three-storey buildings with a basement are a building of different times. Its oldest part is the building of the former consistory, built at the end of the 18th century according to the project V. Koftyreva, but according to its purpose, it adjoins the architectural ensemble of the Annunciation Church.
Office Buildings
The consistory was adjacent to the premises of the provincial office, which at the beginning of the 19th century became House of the Kazan Governor for which additional premises were added. As a result, a very presentable two-story building with 15 windows was formed. The lower floor was occupied by office space and the quarters of the viceroy's family. The second floor had a magnificent throne room with choirs for the orchestra. It was there that grandiose balls were held for representatives of the highest Russian and Tatar nobility. One of these balls was given in 1798 in connection with the arrival of Emperor Paul the First in Kazan.
The facade view of the building is well preserved from the side of the courtyard, where you can admire the preserved decor in the form of a risalit, rusticated pilasters, niches of window openings, decorated with a decorative panel with various images at the top and bottom of the windows. All these decorations gave a certain representativeness to the administrative building, which was also completed with halls for the Offices. The main façade of the Presences is very austere in design. The number of storeys is horizontally underlined by cornices. Almost all the windows are decorated with rectangles of architraves, except for the elegantly framed windows of the former consistory and the House of the Kazan Governor.
In Soviet times, the ensemble of Government offices was occupied by various ministries and departments, the Arbitration Court of the Republic of Tatarstan, etc. Now the building is undergoing a major overhaul, and all institutions have found another home.
Opposite the Ensemble of Public Places stretches the Ensemble of buildings that belonged to the former Junkers School, which includes the building of the school itself, the combat arena and the Cannon Yard.
Ensemble of the Junker School
Arena
Immediately after the Transfigured Monastery of the Savior, before the main building of the Junkers School, an architectural and historical landmark stands separately from it - a drill Arena. This capacious building is surprising in its design - it was used for drills.
The main façade of the building is decorated with rustication, into which pilasters, vanes and edging of arched windows are embedded. Now here is showroom, which hosts various thematic events - exhibitions with guided tours, a master class for children and adults, festive balls, film screenings, conferences and concerts.
Having descended into the inner courtyard of the Manege, we will find ourselves on a vast platform laid decorative brick on which stands a wonderful building modern architecture- the amazing and magnificent blue and white mosque Kul-Sharif.
Kul Sharif Mosque
Erected at the end of the 20th century in memory of the Muslim center of the Kazan Khanate, the mosque has become a symbol of Kazan, its "visiting card" and a true decoration of the Kremlin.
You need to admire the mosque from the outside, be sure to go inside to admire the architectural completeness of this truly grandiose and monumental creation and, if possible, visit M bonds of islam. After visiting the mosque, we go to the main building of the Junker School, which has its own architectural and historical destiny.
Junker School
At the very beginning of the 19th century a barracks is being built in the Kazan Kremlin for cantonists- this was the name of young and underage boys of the lower army military ranks, as well as Polish, Jewish, Finnish and Gypsy children from poor families, forcibly taken almost from the age of 8 into recruits. Later, the cantonist barracks are restored and transferred to in 1866 newly established Junker military school.
Junker School
The two-story barracks were built on during the Soviet period with one more floor. From pre-revolutionary times, the design of the three entrances of the main facade, decorated with canopies, has been preserved. Chebaksin forging, in which weaving into the pattern is clearly visible different colors. Today, in the former barracks, inside which powerful three-flight staircases based on brick arches have been preserved, there are wonderful modern museums. Here you can visit National Art Gallery "Khazine", representing paintings by famous Tatar artists (B. Urmanche, Kh. Yakupov, I. Zaripov, N. Feshin, etc.), an exposition Museum of the Great Patriotic War , Natural History Museum and exhibition hall "Hermitage".
Art Gallery
Choose any museum or thematic exhibition and stroll through the halls and stairs of the former Junkers School.
cannon yard
Leaving the museum complex of the old Junker School, passing a little forward through the entrance gate of the 17th century, we find ourselves in cannon yard. It was called the Cannon, Arsenal or Artillery Yard, and it was originally attached to the fortress western wall. It fully took shape here by the end of the 17th century, and at first it was a simple U-shaped structure. Before the annexation of Kazan, the Khan's military training ground was located on this site, the Khan's troops and the military arsenal were based.
cannon yard
The territory of the Cannon Yard was a place for the manufacture, storage and repair of large weapons. The two-story main building, supplemented on both sides by identical one-story buildings and decorated with towers at the corners, had a passage gate that has survived to this day through which we entered. On the very territory of the courtyard you can see a partially preserved Southern building, containing the archaeological remains of industrial premises.
Southern building of the Cannon Yard
In 1812, the reconstruction of the Cannon Yard was carried out. A new one was built along the western side. Forge Corps, but then all the buildings of the Cannon Yard were badly damaged by a fire in 1815, after which the repair and production of weapons ceased. Further, the fate of the Cannon Yard was closely intertwined with the opening military school, for which the architect Schmidt carried out a number of restoration works and since 1866 all these restored premises were occupied Junker School.
Now, on the recreated territory of the Cannon Yard, museum exhibitions military weapons of various historical eras, and in the restored Blacksmith's Building you can buy various works of craftsmen made of leather, metal, wood, etc., as well as drink aromatic tea with Tatar national sweets. If you want to refresh yourself more thoroughly, then you can go to Cafe "Cannon Yard", and then, after resting, move again through the territory of the Kazan Kremlin, opening its new amazing pages.
Leaving through the same arched passage gate, you will find yourself opposite a small public garden where we invite you to visit. This is a compact landscaped green oasis among the stone structures of the Kremlin, in the middle of which there is a symbolic Monument to the Architects of the Kazan Kremlin, summarizing in its images the memory of Russian and Tatar builders who worked on the Kremlin territory.
Monument to the Architects of the Kazan Kremlin
This square is the connecting center of the architectural and historical ensemble of the Annunciation Church, which can include: the former Bishop's Palace, miraculously survived architectural monument 16th century - Annunciation Cathedral and the former consistory. Let's get to know them in order.
Ensemble of the Annunciation Cathedral
Consistory
From the south, the territory of the ensemble of the Annunciation Cathedral is outlined by the former spiritual consistory, which is tightly adjacent to one of the towers of the Kazan Kremlin - Konsistorskaya. A two-storey consistory was built here in the 18th century. Previously, these lands belonged to the bishop's stables.
The formation of the building continued in different periods. The Consistory completes the line of the ensemble of Public Places. The window architraves of the main facade are decorated in the style of Russian patterned architecture and give the building an elegant look.
Bishop's Palace
From the southeast of the Annunciation Cathedral, the Bishop's Palace built in 1829 is clearly visible. It was intended for the church head of the entire Kazan district. In the 16th century, this place was hut of St. Guria, then, from the 17th century, the bishop's palace-residence was located here. Time and fires destroyed the building of the 17th century, and a new brick palace building was rebuilt - two-story, covered with complex hip roof. Erected in classical style in the eastern facade it had three projections, in the central one there was home church of St. Guria.
Bishop's Palace
In the middle of the 20th century, in Soviet times, the third floor was completed, which greatly modified the former bishop's palace. The loss of the attic of the central façade and the disappearance of the tent completion of the central ledge on the eastern façade turned the building into an unremarkable three-story building. Today, as a result of the restoration work of the palace in 2010-13, it has been returned to its original appearance of the late classicism era.
Restoration work of the Bishop's Palace
Now posted here Office of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan. Be sure to walk around the palace, from the back side you will see the risalits, the central one of which is the former house church of St. Guriya. In addition, bypassing the building, you will find yourself on a wonderful observation deck, from where you can enjoy beautiful views of the Kremlin Embankment and the Palace of Agriculture, the restored monasteries and churches, the far-flung prospect of the opposite bank of the Kazanka with the Ferris wheel, Chalice and other building structures.
View from the observation deck
For those who want to see everything in more detail, a telescope is installed on the site.
Blagoveshchensky cathedral
Having familiarized yourself with the building of the bishop's palace and examined the consistories, you can get acquainted in more detail and closely with the remarkable building of the 16th century - the Annunciation Cathedral.
Former Cathedral, built by Pskov masters, has undergone many architectural reconstructions, survived the times of wars and revolutions, miraculously was not destroyed, and then completely restored. Today it is a worthy decoration of the Kazan Kremlin, a functioning Orthodox cathedral and a historical and architectural monument open to the public.
Visible from the side of the park chapel of St. Guria whose relics are now kept in the temple. Having bypassed the cathedral from its southern side, boldly climb the porch and go to the temple itself, inspect its decoration, the recreated wall painting, the iconostasis, its western and eastern aisles, dedicated one to Boris and Gleb, and the other to Peter and Fevronia.
Leaving the Church of the Annunciation, linger on its porch and once again admire the beautiful building of the Cannon Yard, the red-brick tower of Syuyumbike towering to the north and the beautiful governor's palace, which is located behind beautiful closed gates.
After a visual inspection of the new objects, we will go down from the porch and go to get acquainted with the last architectural ensemble located in the very north of the Kazan Kremlin - the Governor's Palace, which, with the Syuyumbike Tower and the Vvedenskaya Church, forms a harmonious complex.
Description of the ensemble of the Governor's Palace
Governor's Palace
In the Kazan Khanate crushed in the middle of the 16th century, before Kazan was annexed to the Russian state, these northern lands were occupied by khan's court, which included the Khan's palace, mosques, minarets, mausoleums with burial places of Kazan khans, many government and economic buildings. All these medieval buildings, divided into sectors, were well fortified, partly surrounded by stone walls, partly wooden. The foundations of the mosques and the palace were also built of stone. Archaeological excavations of this complex, named Khan Jami, made it possible to find out the series interesting facts and find the burial places of the famous khans of Kazan.
After the storming of 1552, almost all the buildings of the Khan's palace were badly damaged, but the palace itself was not completely destroyed, it existed until 1807, being mentioned in Russian chronicles as "the old sovereign's court". Next to it at one time there was a house of the chief commandant. Then, by the middle of the 19th century, a mansion was built instead military governor of Kazan.
The building was designed by the famous Russian architect K.Ton, famous for such famous Moscow buildings as the Grand Kremlin Palace and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The interiors inside the palace were designed by a Kazan architect M. Korinfsky.
Double decker Governor's Palace(about 30 meters high) was built in the style of Russian classicism, with a simple symmetrical layout, rustication and division by the Corinthian order. But elements of Baroque, Muslim and Old Russian architecture were added to the design of the facade of the palace, which gave the building an eclectic look.
The center of the building is a risalit (ledge) decorated with a pediment of three keeled arches. Window and door openings are also decorated in the form of arches. The view at the governor's palace is solemnly respectable. The solemnity and solidity of the building is added by a beautifully designed palace square with a fountain and flower beds and openwork gate through which we can admire the residence of the current president of the Republic of Tatarstan.
Gate of the Governor's Palace
The Governor's Palace in its status existed before the October Revolution, and it was in its halls that the Soviet authority in the region. And then, during the long Soviet period, the building of the former Governor's Palace was occupied by the Supreme Council and the Council of Ministers of the TASSR.
After admiring the palace and rounding the governor's gate on the left, we come to the mysterious, legendary landmark - Syuyumbike Tower.
Tower Syuyumbike
This architectural structure, which has become a symbol and "calling card" of the city, still causes controversy and various judgments about the time, authorship and purpose of the building. But there are more legends about it than about any other object of the Kremlin! A seven-tier "falling" red-brick tower without any special architectural frills, whose name is connected in some strange way with the name the last Tatar queen, invariably attracts the close attention of all tourists.
Tower Syuyumbike
On the left, near the Syuyumbike tower, you can see the mothballed archaeological excavations that revealed in this place burial places of some Kazan khans who were reburied in a specially created Mausoleum. You can see part of the Mausoleum through the observation deck. glass dome. Further, on the right in the direction of travel, the Vvedenskaya Church appears in front of us, compositionally connected with the Governor's Palace.
Vvedenskaya Church
It is believed that this church was built on the remaining foundation Tatar Muraliev Mosque period of the Kazan Khanate. However, this is also controversial. The time of construction of the temple is usually attributed to the 17th century, although the deep, solid foundation dates back to the 16th century. It may have been built in the 17th century, but as a result of repeated fires, it was rebuilt during restoration.
Now the church is a two-tiered, formerly five-domed, and now one-domed temple (about 30 meters high). Its architectural similarity of the stepped construction with the lower tier of the Syuyumbike tower, which is also equipped with a wide promenade, is surprising. This is another unsolved mystery of the Kazan Kremlin.
During the functioning of the governor's palace, the church played the role of a brownie for the governor's family and at the same time a parish for the servants and guards of the palace. The church was served by one clergyman who lived directly in the palace. At the beginning of the 18th century, the church, according to its purpose, became military and is now called Church in the name of the Entry into the Temple Holy Mother of God at the Kazan battalion. Later it was used as a regimental church of the Sviyazhsky garrison.
The church was repeatedly burned, after fires it was restored, sometimes with a very long break. For example, after a terrible fire in 1815, there was a gunpowder warehouse for a long time in a burnt, dilapidated church building. By order Minister of War M.B. Barclay de Tolly, the destroyed part of the church was dismantled, and everything of value was given to the pupils of the military orphanage department of the cantonists for the construction of the building. Military functions were transferred to the Church of the Savior.
The temple was put in order only by the middle of the 19th century, and by personal order Nicholas I, who was in Kazan and saw his deplorable state. restored church architect F. Petondi, which largely changed the appearance and layout of the building, but retained the schematic and stylistics of the previous structure. The galleries of two floors were closed, main entrance moved to the west side, the interiors are decorated in the style of classicism with baroque elements, which can be traced in the lush corner capitals, elegant window frames etc.
The revived temple was consecrated as Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit. On the lower floor there is a chapel of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, and the icon for this chapel was donated to the temple by the descendants of poet E. Boratynsky living in Kazan. The second floor was equipped with a chapel of St. Martyr Alexandra. A covered gallery connected the temple with the governor's palace.
1918 did not become an exception for the temple - like all other church buildings, it was closed and looted. In Soviet times, it housed a canteen for employees of numerous ministries and departments who lived on the Kremlin territory. Now the building of the temple has been restored and it houses Museum of Tatar Statehood which we also recommend you visit. But before climbing up wide porch to the Vvedensky Church, look into the courtyard between the Syuyumbike tower and the temple, where you can look at the mothballed archaeological research in 1977 who discovered here the remains of a cult complex of the Tatar period: part of the wall, the foundation of the mosque, tombstones.
Having examined the building of the Vvedenskaya Church and the museums located in it, we recommend that you go down to the northernmost travel tower of the Kazan Kremlin, built by Pskov craftsmen in the 16th century - Taynitskaya, and, leaving through it, go around the fortress walls on the left along the Kremlin hill. During this walk, you can admire the panorama of the city and carefully examine the unique monuments of medieval defensive architecture - the walls and towers of the Kremlin.
Walls and towers of the Kazan Kremlin
The Kazan Kremlin was created as fortification and, of course, was surrounded by strong walls with loopholes, watch and battle towers, some of which were travel. During the time of the Kazan Khanate and earlier, the walls were mostly wooden. After the capture of Kazan, the strategic importance of the walls remained very important and therefore they were restored in the first place. At first as wooden fortifications, but soon they began to be rebuilt in stone from white limestone, and in the 17th century already from red brick.
The width of the walls is about 6 m, the height varies from 8 to 12, and the total length is 1800 m. Special niches were arranged in the walls for storing ammunition, which could be observed when walking through the inner territory. There were thirteen tower structures at the beginning. Among them were round, travel, and even one five-sided. But some of them were destroyed in different centuries and for different reasons - their mothballed foundations can be seen today. So before us
Taynitskaya tower
The Taynitskaya tower as a sentinel tower was equipped with gates, gratings and had a cranked passage, passing through which you feel the breath of the Middle Ages emanating from the white Volga limestone. And now we go out to the left onto the path that goes along the upper ridge of the Kremlin hill.
Next we will see northwest tower, or rather, only its foundation. But the next one is round Nameless brick tower, built in the 17th century, has survived to this day. Behind the wall adjacent to the tower you can see the tops of the Forge buildings of the Cannon Yard. Further, we again see only the base of the tower - once there was a five-sided tower built in the 16th century by Pskov craftsmen.
A little further - a quadrangular travel tower - Preobrazhenskaya. Its inner side adjoined the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery. It was built by Pskov masters in the 16th century, but later it was rebuilt several times. In the distant times of the prosperity of the Kazan Khanate, the Kremlin territory ended here, and then the stretching walls go along the territory enlarged by the Russians.
Having reached the next round tower, called southwestern and which was built together with the Spasskaya Tower, we will admire the surviving example of a medieval Pskov defensive structure. And, finally, we turn to the already well-known Spasskaya Tower, a little further away from which there is a similar South-Western round southeast tower.
On this, the description of the territory of the Kazan Kremlin can be considered complete, but we are sure that you will return here more than once to once again feel the connection of times, admire the amazingly organic and beautiful architectural monuments of the Kazan Kremlin, visit interesting exhibitions and museums, and just take a walk along the already familiar and favorite places.